Oligonucleotide probes for DNA fingerprinting in horses

SUMMARY: 10 different oligonucleotide probes were evaluated for DNA fingerprinting in horses. Five probes were able to detect polymorphic bands. The probes (GT)(8) , (GTG)(5) and (GGAT)(4) are most informative for individual identification and were used to analyze a population of Hannoveranian horses. The probability that two individuals have the same DNA fingerprint pattern is 1.2 × 10(-8) , 5.2 × 10(-10) and 1.5 × 10(-7) respectively. Using a combination of the three probes, paternity tests were performed with exclusion probabilities between 0.08% and 4%. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Oligonukleotide-Sonden für DNS-Fingerprints von Pferden Zur Darstellung von DNA-Fingerprints beim Pferd wurden zehn verschiedene Oligonukleotid-Sonden verglichen. Mit fünf Sonden konnten polymorphe Banden nachgewiesen werden. Die Sonden (GT)(8) , (GTG)(5) und (GGAT)(4) besa?en die gr??te Informativit?t für den Identit?tsnachweis und wurden für die Analyse einer Population von Hannoverschen Pferden benutzt. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit, da? zwei Individuen dieselben Fingerprint-Muster aufweisen, liegt bei 1,2 × 10(-8) , 5,2 × 10(-10) bzw. 1,5 × 10(-7) . Bei Verwendung einer Kombination der drei Sonden wurden Vaterschaftskontrollen mit Ausschlu?wahrscheinlichkeiten zwischen 0,08% und 4% erreicht.     

Comparison of cardiac function and coronary angiography between conventional pigs and micropigs as measured by multidetector row computed tomography

Pigs are the most likely source animals for cardiac xenotransplantation. However, an appropriate method for estimating the cardiac function of micropigs had not been established. Computed tomography (CT) analysis aimed at estimating cardiac function and assessing the coronary arteries has not been carried out in micropigs. This study determined the feasibility of evaluating cardiac function in a micropig model using multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) and compared the cardiac function values with those of conventional pigs. The mean age of the conventional pigs and micropigs was approximately 80 days and approximately 360 days, respectively. The mean body weight in the conventional pigs and micropigs was 29.70 ± 0.73 and 34.10 ± 0.98 kg, respectively. Cardiac MDCT detected ejection fractions of 52.93 ± 3.10% and 59.00 ± 5.56% and cardiac outputs of 1.46 ± 0.64 l/min and 1.21 ± 0.24 l/min in conventional pigs and micropigs, respectively. There were no significant differences in cardiac function between conventional pigs and micropigs in the reconstructed CT images. There were also no differences in the coronary angiographic images obtained by MDCT. It is expected that the results of this study will help improve understanding of cardiac function in micropigs. The data presented in this study suggest that MDCT is a feasible method for evaluating cardiac function in micropigs.     

In vivo morphological and antigenic characteristics of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida

The present study was conducted to examine the morphology and antigenicity of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida by culturing the bacterium in vivo in the peritoneal cavity of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) within dialysis bags with either a low molecular weight (LMW) cut-off of 25 kDa or a high molecular weight (HMW) cut-off of 300 kDa. Differences were observed in the growth rate between the bacteria cultured in vivo or in vitro. Bacteria cultured in vivo were smaller and produced a capsular layer, which was more prominent in bacteria cultured in the HMW bag. Antigenicity was examined by Western blot analysis using sera from sea bass injected with live Ph. d. subsp. piscicida. The sera recognised bands at 45 and 20 kDa in bacteria cultured in vivo in the LMW bag. Bacteria cultured in vivo in the HMW bag did not express the 45 kDa band when whole cell extracts were examined, although the antigen was present in their extracellular products. In addition, these bacteria had a band at 18 kDa rather than 20 kDa. Differences in glycoprotein were also evident between bacteria cultured in vitro and in vivo. Bacteria cultured in vitro in LMW and HMW bags displayed a single 26 kDa band. Bacteria cultured in the LMW bag in vivo displayed bands at 26 and 27 kDa, while bacteria cultured in vivo in the HMW bag possessed only the 27 kDa band. These bands may represent sialic acid. The significance of the changes observed in the bacterium''s structure and antigenicity when cultured in vivo is discussed.     

Topical 0.03% tacrolimus for treatment of pemphigus erythematosus in a Korea Jindo dog

Topical 0.03% tacrolimus was used for treatment of a Korea Jindo dog diagnosed with pemphigus erythematosus. The dog was slowly improved following application of tacrolimus but did not achieve complete remission until end of this study. No adverse effects on clinical or laboratory parameters were noted during the topical tacrolimus therapy period.     

Response of young hydroponically grown tomato plants to phenolic acids

Phenolic acids—excreted both as root exudates and by microorganisms—are of interest in cultivation systems of different horticultural crops since they have been claimed to accumulate in closed hydroponic growing systems. The aim of the present investigation was to assess the phytotoxic effects when hydroponically grown tomato plants are exposed to phenolic acids in the root environment. The tomato plants were grown in static aerated culture and exposed to benzoic, caffeic, chlorogenic, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic, salicylic and vanillic acid at concentrations of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 400 μM in the fresh nutrient solution. The highest concentration of all tested compounds significantly reduced fresh and dry weights. Salicylic and ferulic acid affected plants already at 150 and 200 μM while effects were less pronounced for p-hydroxybenzoic and chlorogenic acid. Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis did not result in any significant difference between any of the tested acids or concentrations. No clear dose-related pattern was obtained with respect to number of leaves and plant length. Visual assessment showed that the most deleterious effects appeared on the roots, which were discoloured and/or had slimy coatings when exposed to the phenolic acids. The uptake of several mineral nutrients was influenced at the highest concentration of all studied compounds. Significantly more bacteria were enumerated in the nutrient solution treated with phenolic acids compared to the controls. Most of the phenolic acids were degraded after 2 days during the start of the trial and within 1 day at the end of the trial. Concentrations phytotoxic to small tomato plants were 1000-fold higher than the natural concentrations measured before. Instead of potentially harmful, the relevance of certain phenolic acids as antimicrobial substances should be considered.     

Oligonucleotide probes for DNA fingerprinting in dogs

SUMMARY: Ten different oligonucleotide probes were evaluated for DNA fingerprinting in dogs. Seven probes are able to detect polymorphic bands. Probes (GT)(8) , (GTG)(5) and (GGAT)(4) are most informative for individual identification. The probabilities that two individuals from different breeds have the same DNA fingerprint pattern are 1.7 × 10(-7) , 5.5 × 10(-8) and 4.5 × 10(-6) , respectively. Using a combination of the three probes, paternity tests were performed with exclusion probabilities between 0.006% and 3%. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Oligonucleotid Sonden für DNA fingerprinting bei Hunden Zur Darstellung von DNA-Fingerprints beim Hund wurden zehn verschiedene Oligonukleotid-Sonden verglichen. Mit sieben Sonden konnten polymorphe Banden nachgewiesen werden. Die Sonden (GT)(8) , (GTG)(5) und (GGAT)(4) besa?en die gr??te Informativit?t für den Indentit?tsnachweis. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit, da? zwei Individuen dieselben Fingerprint-Muster aufweisen, liegt bei 1,7 × 10(-7) , 5,5 × 10(-8) bzw. 4,5 × 10(-6) . Bei Verwendung einer Kombination der drei Sonden wurden Vaterschaftskontrollen mit Ausschlu?wahrscheinlichkeiten zwischen 0,006% und 3 % erreicht.     

大豆品种抗食心虫的初步研究

大豆品种对食心虫的抗虫性表現在两个方面:(1)成虫迴避产卵。(2)幼虫入莢死亡率高。試驗証明:大豆食心虫成虫在有毛的大豆品种上,绝大多数产卵于豆莢上;在无毛的大豆品种上,绝大多数产于托叶內,从这一部位孵化的幼虫,于爬行入莢的过程中,有相当一部分幼虫死亡,因而其入莢率及虫食率较有毛品种低。在有毛品种中,铁莢四粒黄有較好的抗虫性,比一般品种的虫食率要低5％左右,其抗虫作用主要是幼虫入莢死亡率高,初入莢的1、2龄幼虫绝大多数死于莢皮及种粒間的組織中。目前,已培育出铁莢四粒黄的杂交后代——吉林一号表現有抗虫丰产性能,已在生产上推广。     

Seroprevalence of leptospirosis in Korean municipal zoo animals

From 2002 to 2005, we collected 118 serum samples from 34 species belonging to 13 families of zoo animals in Korea and determined the prevalence of antibodies for 18 serovars of Leptospira spp. using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Twenty-nine (25%) of the serum samples tested were positive for one or more of the serovars. There were no significant differences in relation to genders: 23% and 26% of positives occurring in male and female animals, respectively (P>0.05). However, the seroprevalence for the Leptospira spp. was significantly higher (P<0.05) in herbivores (45%) than in either carnivores (17%) or omnivores (17%). Among the 5 serovars detected in this study, the most common was sejroe (n=27; 87% of all positive reactions). All positive reactions showed low titers (< or = 1:200) and the positives were most frequently detected in 1:25 (58%) and 1:50 (23%) serum dilutions. The highest antibody titer (1:200) was observed for the serovars sejroe (n=1) and bratislava (n=1). We conclude that the exposure of zoo animals to Leptospira spp. is relatively common in Korea and produces low MAT titers, with sejroe being the most commonly encountered serovar.     

Cellular characterization of multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein, alpha fetoprotein, and neovascular endothelium-associated antigens in canine hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhotic liver

P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which is encoded by the multidrug resistance gene (MDR-1); alpha fetoprotein (AFP); and vascular endothelium-associated antigens are well-known markers for human and canine hepatic diseases. We obtained liver tissues from 5 dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 12 dogs with cirrhosis, and we performed histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluations using anti-P-gp, anti-AFP, anti-CD31, and anti-CD34 antibodies. P-gp was expressed at higher levels in HCC than in cirrhotic livers ( P < .01), and was most commonly localized in biliary canaliculi and small ductuli. AFP was localized mainly in the cytoplasm in HCC ( P < .01) and in a few cases of cirrhosis. In both HCC and cirrhosis, the AFP-positive cells were morphologically similar to normal hepatocytes and showed an even cytoplasmic distribution of AFP. The endothelial markers CD31 and CD34 were used to investigate vascular distribution. CD31 was expressed strongly in the portal area and parenchyma in HCC, but it was rarely observed in the parenchyma in cirrhosis. CD34 expression could not be detected in both HCC and cirrhosis. This study constitutes the first comprehensive study of P-gp, AFP, and endothelial markers in canine HCC and cirrhosis. The importance of these markers in HCC and cirrhosis in dogs was demonstrated and provides a more accurate basis for a definitive diagnosis of HCC and cirrhosis in dogs.     

Immunoproteomic analysis of capsulate and non-capsulate strains of Lactococcus garvieae

A comparative immunoproteomic study was carried out to investigate the immunogenicity of capsulate (KG9408) and non-capsulate (NSS9310) strains of Lactococcus garvieae. Immunoblot assays, following two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) for L. garvieae strains, revealed a significant difference between anti-capsulate and anti-non-capsulate rabbit sera with respect to the number and antigenicity of antigenic spots. Anti-capsulate and anti-non-capsulate rabbit sera reacted with an average of 72 and 127 antigenic spots, respectively. The strong reaction of anti-non-capsulate sera with elongation factor (EF)-G and -Tu, and GMP synthase, of the L. garvieae strains identifies these as specific major antigens. This study clearly demonstrates the differences in 2-DE immunoblot profiles between the capsulate and non-capsulate strains of L. garvieae. These differences may be the reason for variations in immunogenicity between capsulate and non-capsulate strains. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase, arginine deaminase and ornithine carbamoyltransferase were identified from the 2-DE immunoblot profiles of both strains. Therefore, these common antigens are potential markers for the development of vaccines against L. garvieae, irrespective of strain. Immunoproteomics, a powerful tool for studying antigens at the proteomic level, allowed a comparative investigation of the immunogenicity of capsulate and non-capsulate strains of L. garvieae for vaccine development.